'Tea party' license plate draws ire with critics on left, right

by Mary Jo Pitzl - Apr. 25, 2011 12:00 AMThe Arizona Republic

"Don't tread on me" may soon be a slogan on a new license plate in Arizona. But critics say the proposal treads on shaky ground, getting the state involved in the "tea party," a political movement that has embraced the phrase as its own.

Even some tea partyers say the bill is the antithesis of what they're about: minimal government involvement.

Last week, hours after the Legislature approved the bill, a New York congressman announced plans to discourage states from following the Arizona Legislature's lead.

The "License Plate Political Slush Fund Prevention Act" would withhold 15 percent of federal highway dollars for any state that, in the view of U.S. Rep Gary Ackerman, D-N.Y., uses government resources to administer a program that encourages partisan political organizations.

Although the tea party is not an organized party, it is a movement that has become a force in electoral politics. Its members largely support Republican candidates who adhere to principles of smaller government, lower taxes and strict adherence to the U.S. Constitution.

In Arizona, Sen. Don Shooter, R-Yuma and co-founder and president of the Yuma Tea Party, introduced the bill. It would incorporate the "Don't tread on me" phrase of the Gadsden flag into a specialty plate, and create a 13-member "Arizona tea party committee."

The committee would disburse the money from plate sales to Arizona groups that "promote tea party governing principles," according to the bill.

Like most other specialty plates, the cost is $25: $8 goes to the state to cover its costs, the remaining $17 is for the sponsoring organization, in this case, the "don't tread on me special plates fund."

The tea-party plate was folded in with nine other specialty plates promoting causes such as multiple-sclerosis awareness and hunger relief.

SB 1402 passed with unanimous Republican support in the Senate. In the House, it got by with the 31 votes needed. Nine Republicans voted "no" along with all Democrats.

The original bill had a questionable provision: Shooter proposed tapping state highway funds for the $32,000 startup costs, to be repaid as plates are sold.

Fellow Republicans amended the bill to ensure the seed money comes from an outside group, which is typical for most specialty plates. Sen. Ron Gould, R-Lake Havasu City, said the idea of using state funds to get the plate rolling "is even more anti-tea party."

Gould wonders if the idea will have enough support to even get to the printing shop. "It's kind of oxymoronical a group that advocates for less government (is) joining in on a scheme to get money through the state," Gould said. Still, he voted for the bill, saying he doesn't spend time worrying about frivolous legislation.

Some ardent tea partyers say "thanks, but no thanks."

"It's against our principles to take government help," said Ron Harders, coordinator of the Southwest Valley Tea Party.

That's the shared sentiment of members of the 2012 Project committee, a group of activists promoting certain candidates in next year's elections, Harders said.

"There were some pretty adamant voices there (that) we don't need government help," he said.

Gould predicted that sales - if the bill becomes law - will be sluggish.

Gould noted similar plates of the Gadsden flag are on the market now and could be the front plate of any vehicle for $10 or less.

Shooter said he doesn't think the bill mixes government with the tea party. He equates the tea party with groups such as the Boy Scouts and the American Cancer Society.

Democrats, however, complained that the plate would turn Arizona's official license plates into billboards for a political cause.

A supporter of SB 1070 with the Don't Tread On Me flag in front of the Sandra Day O'Connor U.S. Courthouse in Phoenix on Thursday.

More on this topic

Senate Bill 1402

Senate Bill 1402 would create 10 specialty license plates. The "Don't tread on me" plate, slogan of the "tea party" movement, has drawn most of the attention. Other proposed plates and the causes they'd support: